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Romania, EU concerned about deportations of Roma from France

Sat, Aug 21 2010 14:45 CET 5350 Views 11 Comments
Romania, EU concerned about deportations of Roma from France

French police inspect an illegal Roma camp in Aix-en-Provence to control and check the identity of its residents on August 19 2010. France sent dozens of Roma home on flights to Bucharest that day in the first mass repatriation since president Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled a crackdown on crime and immigration with the dismantling of some 300 illegal camps that has been condemned by rights groups.
 


Photo: Reuters

Romania has expressed concern about the deportations of Gypsies, or Roma, from France, saying it could lead to "xenophobic reactions". Friday's statement came as French authorities put some 100 Gypsies, or Roma, on a charter flight headed to their native Romania after expelling scores of others on Thursday. 

As hundreds of deported gypsies, or Roma, were expected to arrive in Romania from France on Friday and the coming days, Romanian President Traian Basescu expressed concern about the situation.

In a statement, he said Romania "understands the position of the French government." But Mr. Basescu stressed Romania also supports "unconditionally the right of every Romanian citizen to travel without restrictions within the European Union" as his country is an EU member state.

These concerns are shared by the EU's executive body, the European Commission said spokesman Matthew Newman.

"We are obviously, very concerned about any form of discrimination, our policies is always to promote full integration of the Roma population in Europe. Let me just remind that Roma people are just like any Europeans people, they are full European citizens, they have the right to free movement anywhere in the EU," said Newman.  "...These are the rights that they have and they need to be respected. And all member states need ensure that these rights are respected."

The Vatican, rights groups and the Council of Europe have also criticized the massive expulsions of Roma. Authorities in France say the deportations are part of an effort by conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy to dismantle what they call "illegal" Roma camps.

They have pledged to give each adult $386 and each child $128 to help them get back on their feet in their home country, if they leave without resistance.

With no signs of France backing down, Romanian President Basescu has offered to send police to help in the careful repatriation of Roma, who have been described as among Europe's most discriminated and impoverished people.

Talking to reporters, expelled Roma expressed concerns about their future in Romania.

One man explained that he studied for 10 years and has a diploma. Yet, he claimed, he will only earn 250 euro, about $317 (U.S.) per month.

Roma are also expected to be expelled to Bulgaria.

Although Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, the French government says Roma should show work permits and prove they can support themselves if they stay in France for more than 90 days.
 
Source: VOANews.com

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Comments

Anonymous Aries. Mon, Aug 23 2010 21:07 CET

Epami
PikeyS is a derogatory name for travelling folk such as Romany Gypsies, often used as an abusive term that is now frequently (and mistakenly) used to describe council estate scumbags who dress badly in cheap clothes and can be seen hanging around all over this country. They are people who have, for the last 800 to 1000 years, been forcibly chased out of every country in Europe, had their children taken away, been sterilised (that was a state sponsored initiative by the Swedish government up until 1974) and lets not forget the 3.5 million that were exterminated [...]

Read the full comment by Nazi Germany in the Holocaust among many other pleasant things Europe has done. Originally they were received in Europe with welcoming arms, the were hard working and had exotic items to trade but then landlords wanted them removed as they undermined their authority, this is when the first anti-gypsy laws came in and ever since then its has the states position to vilify and persecute them. Still today they are one of the most underrepresented and racially abused ethnic groups.
Now the descendants are highly suspicious of settled people are treat them like shit, I suffered from this working in a pub they didn’t like to leave and if you forced the issue they would smash the place up. But then as I am of Pikey origins on my fathers side i could undestand their resentment, my fathers family were forced to settle. I never knew any different from you and i have worked hard until i went to uni (which I am paying for). Some of them really are a bunch of dicks who do nothing more than make trouble, but not all. Its like saying all muslims are terrorist, all black men thieves and all white blokes are paedophiles.>>>
Some of them are bloody b***ards of Irish breed ny another interpretation.

Anonymous Dianne Hatton Mon, Aug 23 2010 19:42 CET

Happen the pope should let them set up their squatter camps in the Vatican square and allow them to peel the lead of the roof. Its easy to condem when its not on your doorstep.

Anonymous*******Mon, Aug 23 2010 18:59 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language

AnonymousAriesMon, Aug 23 2010 12:11 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content

AnonymousMcNeilMon, Aug 23 2010 01:50 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content

Anonymous McNeil Mon, Aug 23 2010 01:42 CET

I am a Canadian that lived in Romania for 7 years and its a highly educated and a very bright country. I have seen Romania and what its gone through and its made huge progress. Its getting better it will take time like anything. Romanians are very hard workers and I have a lot of friends who are Romanian and I am proud to have friends from Romania. Romania is doing very well in comparison to the likes of Spain, Greece, Italy. Its got the thumbs up from the IMF, European Commission many times. The IMF avoid Kosovo at all [...]

Read the full comment costs. I've never seen the IMF applaud Kosovo, all I've seen is constant criticism.

AnonymousMcNeilMon, Aug 23 2010 01:37 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content

Anonymous MA Sun, Aug 22 2010 15:24 CET

All EU citizens have to show that they can support themselves if they stay in other EU country more than three months, doesn't matter if you are roma or not.

Anonymous*******Sun, Aug 22 2010 11:13 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language

Anonymous*******Sun, Aug 22 2010 07:41 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language

Anonymous kosovan Sat, Aug 21 2010 19:05 CET

rumania and greece out of eu in two jears


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